Deccan Herald: Sathya, dharma are pillars of life: Baba

[Guest guest]

"Deccan Herald" National Wednesday, November 23, 2005 Sathya, dharma

are pillars of life: Baba From R Krishnakumar DH News Service Puttaparthi

The elements have taken a beating in Puttaparthi. An incessant drizzle and

looming clouds promising more haven’t dampened the decibels in this little big

town of Andhra Pradesh. On the eve of Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s 80th

birthday, the town is dotted by men in khaki, and many more of them in white,

busy keeping things in order. One walk down any given street, however, would

tell you they have a tough task in hand.

 

Roads to the 24th Convocation of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher

Learning are a maze. For one, there’s not much information around on the

convocation. At the ceremony, sprightly young students brace for the big moment

but even they know who the man of the moment is.

 

Every time he speaks, the response is an almost typical drone and applause.

“The end of education is character. This is the principle that students should

embrace,” says the Baba to a predictably cheerful crowd. More wisdom then comes

unfurling.

 

“Sathya and Dharma are the pillars of human life. While the former is the

basement, the latter is the pillar and both can together build the home —

Shanti,” he says even as smarter devotees defy the ban on photo/videography,

flashing their mobile phones to capture the man in motion.

 

Feverish pitch

 

Not surprisingly, many of the volunteers have Baba as their phone wallpaper.

He also lauds the students who have passed out of the institute to become

better, value-driven citizens. There are more cheers. By now, the mood has

touched a palpably feverish pitch. A couple of European devotees start slow

chants and some others, in a self-hugging crouch, sob. An old man next to you

says, “Sai Ram. Bhagwan never prepares speeches. They are always ex tempore.”

There are also others who can’t hide the excitement to see him walk. The mood

is ecstatic and is a teaser to what to expect on Wednesday morning when the

Baba addresses a potentially mammoth gathering.

 

Karnataka Governor T N Chaturvedi speaks at length about the values on which

the institution is built. “You have the opportunity to be the effective vehicle

for the fulfillment of his (Baba’s) mandate for the regeneration and renewal of

our country and thus for humanity as a whole,” he tells the students who have by

now, soaked in the importance of the occasion surrounding them. Many of them

sport the best of their smiles while sharing dais space with the Baba. As for

the less fortunate on the floor, they promise to be there on Wednesday too, to

wave, cheer or just look at him.

 

In Puttaparthi, that’s a routine which never goes off-season.

 

Source: http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/nov232005/national17231920051122.asp